search icon basket icon

Tuning a Piano

At Coach House Pianos we believe that the key to maintaining your piano, whether you’re a professional pianist or an enthusiastic learner, is keeping your instrument in top condition, which requires expert care. We recommend tuning your piano at least twice a year, with more frequent tuning for teachers or performers. With our years of experience, we wanted to offer you trusted advice on how to keep your piano sounding its best.

Search for a tuner through our recommended list, full of qualified Piano Tuners with the PTA accreditation, to find someone in your area.

The charge for piano tuning can vary depending on the type of piano. Factors such as a piano being miniature or older can require more challenging and costly procedures. PTA tuners are also highly skilled individuals, who make a very difficult job look easier than it is. Therefore, be prepared to pay a reasonable amount for the tuner’s experience and skilled expertise.

Various circumstances require a piano to be tuned. Pitch is essential for staying in harmony with other instruments and can only be maintained through tuning. Other factors like time, temperature, and humidity can cause the strings to lose tension, leading the piano to go out of tune. Even if the piano isn’t played often, annual tuning is recommended to help prevent costly repairs further down the line. However, more frequent tuning is necessary if the piano has just been moved or is played regularly, ensuring it stays in optimal condition.

We recommend that you get your piano tuned at least twice a year.  However, piano teachers and professional pianists should look at getting it done quarterly.

While tuning costs and methods can vary based on the type and condition of the piano, all pianos can be tuned. Miniature, older, and over-damped pianos may be more challenging due to factors like shorter strings, corroded parts, or loose tuning pins, which can affect stability. These factors might require more complex and costly procedures, such as pitch raises for severely out-of-tune instruments. Nonetheless, even the most challenging pianos can be restored to proper pitch with expert care and experience.

We strongly recommend that you do not try to tune your piano on your own. Pianos are very complex and delicate instruments and if you are not a trained technician you may end up doing more harm than good, and one mistake could cause a more costly repair.

Common indicators to recognise when your piano needs servicing include: If the sound quality changes, such as a dull or uneven tone, or keys that feel sticky or unresponsive. If you notice your piano going out of tune more quickly than usual, it may be a sign that the tuning pins or strings need attention. Visual signs like worn hammers, loose parts, or unusual noises when playing can also indicate that servicing is needed. Regular maintenance checks, even without obvious issues, can prevent more significant problems and ensure your piano remains in optimal condition.

Tuning Record Card

Keep track of your piano tuning with our downloadable piano tuning card


FIND A PIANO TUNER

We recommend you only use a fully trained and qualified Piano Tuner with the PTA accreditation, to find a tuner in your area visit the following link:

Search Now


Coach House brands